Injector



F. s. BARKS INJEcToR Filed Jan. 17, 1938 April 1s, 1939.

F IG. l'.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE INJEC'IOR poration of Missouri Application January 17, 1338, Serial No. 185,352

11 Claims.

This invention relates to injectors, and with regard to certain more specic features, to injectors for pressure lubricating apparatus and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an injector for use in systems such as described in United States Patent Number 2,141,022 of Lutwin C. Retter, dated Dec. 20, 1938, for Lubricating apparatus; and which is an improvement upon the injector shown in United States Patent Number 2,122,177, issued to Victor G. Klein, on June 28, 1933, for Injector; the provision oi an injector of the class described in which the delivered charge may be varied and accurately adjusted to predetermined amounts; the provision of an injector of this class which may be adjusted while loaded; and the provision of apparatus of this class in which the degree of adjustment is eXteriorly visible. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope oi the application ci which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown several of various possible embodiments or" the invention,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the injector with its cap removed and an adjusting wrench in place;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section showing the injector with the cap in place, the dotted lines indicating d the position of the wrench as it Would be if it were in adjusting position; and,

Fig. 3 is an end view of an alternative form of closure, parts being broken away to show a section.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views oi the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral l5 an inlet line supplying lubricant to the injector, and at ll an outlet line. The inlet comes from a suitable pump, and the outlet line Il is associated with a suitable bearing or bearings which are to be lubricated, as described in said Patents 2,122,177 and 2,141,022.

The object of the injector is to permit of forou ing measured charges oi" lubricant from the line i5 to the line Il' simply by operating a pump. The object of this invention is to permit of ac- I curately predetermining these charges and of adjusting them.

The line l5 is threaded into a nipple l which in turn is threaded into a .die-cast body portion 2l. The body portion 2l has an outlet i8 into which the outlet pipe il is threaded. l Within the body portion 2l is a hardened steel liner 2 around which the body portion 2l is die-cast. Although this method of pr viding a hard sleeve 2 -in a body portion 2l is structurally advantageous in a valve of this class, the sleeve 2 and the body *il may be treated functionally as one part. Hereinaiter, this will be done wherever desirable.

In the sleeve 2 is a valve passageV 23 in which is a valve 25. The valve 25 has a head 2l which is exposed to the pressure entering the line i5. The valve also has a peripheral recess 29,

A spring 3&3 normally presses the valve 25 (at shoulder il) to what will be called a re-charging position (shown in Fig. 2). Motion is limited inwardly by shoulder 1S. The valve carries an indicater stem 3l adjacent which is a shoulder 32 limiting the outward movement oi the stem. The stem moves through an opening 34 in a cap 33, the latter also serving to hold in place the spring 39. The shoulder 4 also serves as a reaction peint for the spring 33 so that the spring may normally move the valve 25 to the left (Fig. 2)'.

Forwardly of the valve, the body 2| carries a v cylindric chamber 35 which has a clearance 37 communicating with the valve cylinder by means of a port or passage 39. Centrally and axially of the cylinder 35 is held a stationary cylinderV or pipe il which forms a communicating passage t3. l

In cylinder 35 and slidably mounted upon the pipe @l is a piston 45. The piston l5 is sealed both inwardly with respect to the pipe 4l and outwardly with respect to the cylinder 35. A spring il normally forces the piston 45 toward the clearance space 31.

The spring 4l is located within a cylindric extension t which is threaded to the cylinder 35.y The spring reacts against radially expansive packing 8 which seals outwardly against the cylinder 6 and seals inwardly against a hollow tube lil. The seal is such as to permit longitudinal and rotary movement of the tube lil without destroying the seal. v

The tube lil comprises a main body portion having a relief port or passage i2 therethrough and a lower sleeve portion in which is a counterbore I4. The counterbore l has a close sliding t with the outside of the pipe 4l and is always in communication with the region above the piston 45 by means of port I6.

At its upper end the tube il! is formed as a shoulder IB which is threaded into the threaded upper end of the cylinder 6. Within this shoulder is a counterbore 2B. The shoulder is slotted at opposite points, the purpose of which is to receive wrench lugs. Over the end of the cylinder 6 is a removable, threaded enclosing cap 24, sealed as at 10,

At numeral 5I is indicated a wrench having a reduced portion 53 upon which are index lines 2'0 nection between (a.) the passage 49 and (b) the 55 adjacent which are Vnumerals indicating, for example, ounces of lubricant. The lines 55 are Y Y visually indexed by their adjacency to the top 26 ofthe cylinder 6, when the cap 24 has been removed. i'

The lower end of the wrench 5I comprises a n portion 51, which is receivable in the counterbore 2U, and lateral lugs 59 which may enter the slots 22. Thus, Yby removing the cap 24the wrench may be applied to the upper end of the adjusting member I9 and said member screwed up or down. The effect of this is to move up or down the lower .Y end 28 of the sleeve member I0 and the lower.

end 28 functions as an abutment to upward travel of the piston 45- Variation in travel of the piston 45 varies the delivered charge. With suitable accuracy in the related positions of shoulder 28,

end 26, lugs 22 and vindices 55, the adjustment of Y the charge is visibly predetermined. Y The purpose of the pipe 4| is to provide aconspring-side of the piston 45, the communication being completed through the passages I4 and I6 of telescoping tube I0. A port 52 Vconnects the cylinder 23 with the outlet I1.

Operation is as follows: Y Starting with the parts in the re-charging position, such as shown in Fig. 2, (cap 24 closed) it may be assumed that thereis no pressure in the line I5. Lubricant has been forced from the lower side of the piston 45 to its upper side by reason of the pressure of spring 41.` lubricant is through passages 39, 29,49, 43, I4

and I6.

Upon arise of'pressure inthe line I5, pressure is exerted upon the valve head 21 to force the Yvalve 25 against spring 39 until the shoulder 32 through passages I6, I4, 43, 49, 29 and 52 to the ,pipe I1.

contacts the head 33. This places the head 21 in a position to uncover the port 39 toV incoming pressure, and at the Sametime causes the recess 29 to connect portsv49 and 52.

The charge of lubricant which theretofore has becomelocated on the upper side of the piston 45 is now forced This is due to piston rise induced by iluid pressure on the bottom side of the piston 45. Pressure enters by way of the open passage 39. The valve'I head 21 prevents pressure from by-passing directly from the inlet I5 to the .Y outlet I1.

When the piston 45 engages the abutment 28, the Vcharge has been emptied, and inasmuch as the space on the lower side of the piston 45 no longer expands, the pressure increases (due to ycontinued pump operation) until pressure relievlng apparatus (not shown) becomes operative 'to Y relieve the pressure in the line I5. The character of this apparatus can be determinedl from said Patent 2,141,022. Also, as shown in said Patent .2,141,022, the/relief of pressure results in stopping the pump. Y

' Hence, whenever the pressure in the inlet I5 drops to a point where the valve 25 is moved back by the spring 30 to the position of Fig. 2, the port ',49 is cut off from the port 52.

line l5 again rises.

Movement of I'he travel of the piston 45 determines the measure of the charge delivered to the line I1. By threading down the member I0, the size of the charge may be reduced, and hencethe index numbers on the wrench, as shown in Fig. 1, successively become smaller as they indicate lowering of the member Ill.

The purpose of the passage I2 is, in view of the loose t between the wrench and the member I9, to permit exudation or bleeding of lubricant from above the piston 45 (through passages i6 and i2) when the member I9 is forced down by the wrench. It will be seen that if such an exudation were not permitted the member I could not be adjusted downwardly when a charge is above the piston. By the provision of bleeder port I2 the device may be adjusted while loaded.

In Fig. 3 is shown an alternative form of the invention in which like numerals designate like parts. The diierence in this form is that the cap 24 is provided with a'boss 6I through which is threaded an indicator and valve screw 63 having Vcap ,24 is replaced and the screw 63 is screwed downto position to shut off the port I2. It will be seen that the elevation of theh'ead of the screw above the boss 6I is determined by the adjusted position of the member I9, so that a user has a visible indication of about what charge is being delivered, without taking the device apart to investigate. The purpose of the seal between the lower end 65 of the screw and the passage I2 is to eliminate the necessity for a seal at the threads of the screw 93.

It is to be understood that the piston 45 is one example of means for separating or dividing the chamber 35 into two chambers, the sizes of which are varied by operation of the apparatus.

Y For example, a movableV diaphragm may be used able dividing means therein, said cylinder having Y an inlet on one side of the dividing means, outlet means leading from the other side of the dividing means, said outlet means comprising a stationary tube through the dividing means, a second tube telescoping the stationary tube and forming an abutment for limiting the movement of the dividing means. ,f

2. An injector comprising a cylinder, a lmovable piston therein, said cylinder having an inlet on one side of the piston, outlet means leading from the other side of the piston, saidl outlet y means comprising a stationary tube through the piston, a second tube telescoped to the stationary tube and forming an abutment for limiting piston movement, said telescoping tube being adjustable in position and having com municating means between the cylinder and said stationary tube.

4. An injector comprising a cylinder, a movable piston therein, said cylinder having an inlet on one side of the piston, outlet means leading from the other side of the piston, said outlet means comprising a stationary tube through the piston, a second tube telescoped with respect to the stationary tube and forming an abutment for limiting piston movement, said telescoping tube being adjustable and having communicating means between the cylinder and said stationary tube and also having communicating means between said cylinder and the exterior of the apparatus.

5. An injector` comprising a cylinder, a movable piston therein, said cylinder having an inlet on one side of the piston, outlet means leading from the other side of the piston, said outlet means comprising a stationary tube through the piston, a second tube telescoped with respect to the stationary tube and forming an abutment for limiting piston movement, said telescoping tube being adjustable and having communicating means between the cylinder and said stationary tube and also having communicating means between said cylinder and the exterior of the apparatus and means for opening said last-named communication during periods of adjustment and for closing it during other periods.

6. An injector comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet on one side of the piston, outlet means communicating from the other side of the piston, said outlet means comprising a stationary tube passing through the piston, a telescoping tube related to said stationary tube and forming a stop for the piston, said telescoping tube including a communication from the cylinder to said stationary tube and including a communication from said cylinder to the exterior, means for adjusting the position of said telescoping tube, and means for closing said exterior communication when the adjusting means is not in position.

7. An injector comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet on one side of the piston, outlet means communicating from the other side of the piston. said outlet means comprising a stationary tube passing through the piston, a telescoping tube related to said stationary tube and forming a stop for the piston, said telescoping tube including a communication from the cylinder to said stationary tube and including a communication from said cylinder to the exterior, means for adjusting the position of said telescoping tube, and means for closing said exterior communication when the adjusting means is not in position, said lastnamed means comprising a screw threaded valve member forming a closure over said exterior communication and extending exteriorly to form an indicator of the adjusted position of said telescoping tube.

8. An injector comprising a body having an inlet and a chamber, movable dividing means in the chamber having areas presented to pressure on opposite sides thereof, means normally biased to one position in which opposite sides of the dividing means are placed in communication with one another, said means being adapted upon increase in pressure in the inlet to assume a position to place one side of the diaphragm in communication with the inlet and the other side thereof with the outlet, the communication with the outlet comprising a stationary tube through the dividing means, and an adjustable tube telescoping said stationary tube, said telescoping tube with the stationary tube forming a communication from one side of the movable dividing means to the outlet.

9. An injector comprising a body having an inlet for receiving a fluid under pressure and having an outlet for delivering uid under pressure, a chamber, a movable dividing means in the chamber having areas presented to pressure on opposite sides thereof, said body including a port between said inlet and one side of the dividing means and a port communicating between the outlet and the other side of the dividing means, valve means traversing said ports normally biased to one position in which both of said ports are cut 01T from the inlet and the outlet, said valve means presenting an area to pressure of the inlet whereby when said pressure rises the valve means is moved to a position to connect said ports respectively to the inlet and outlet, and an adjustable stop means adapted variab-ly to limit the motion of said dividing means.

10. An injector comprising a body having an inlet and a chamber, movable dividing means in the chamber having areas presented to pressure on opposite sides thereof, means normally biased to one position in which oppositesides of the diaphragm are placed in communication with one another, said means being adapted upon increase in pressure in the inlet to assume a position to place one side of the diaphragm in communication with the inlet and the other side thereof with the outlet, the communication with the outlet including a stationary tube through the dividing means, and a second tube telescoping said stationary tube, said telescoping tube being adjustable and with the stationary tube forming a communication from one side of the movable dividing means to the outlet, said adjustable means having a bleeder port for use during adjustment, and means preventing bleeding under conditions of non-adjustment.

11. An injector comprising a body having an inlet and a chamber, movable dividing means in the chamber having areas presented to pressure on opposite sides thereof, means normally biased to one position in which opposite sides of the diaphragm are placed in communication with one another, said means being adapted upon increase in pressure in the inlet to assume a position to place one side of the diaphragm in communication with the inlet and the other side thereof with the outlet, the communication with the outlet including a stationary tube through the dividing means, and a second adjustable tube telescoping said stationary tube, said telescoping tube forming a communication from one side of the movable dividing means to the outlet, said adjustable means having also a bleeder port for use during adjustment, and means preventing bleeding under conditions of non-adjustment, said last-named means comprising exterior indicating means.

' FRANK S. BARKS. 

